- South Norfolk by-election, 1955
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The South Norfolk by-election, 1955 was a by-election held on 13th January 1955 for the British House of Commons constituency of South Norfolk.
The by-election was triggered by the expulsion of the serving Conservative Member of Parliament (MP), Peter Baker, who had been expelled from the House of Commons after being convicted of uttering, forgery and fraud and sentenced to seven years' imprisonment.
In the early 1920s, South Norfolk had been a marginal seat which alternated between Conservative and Labour MPs, before the Conservative James Christie held it from the 1924 election until Labour's Christopher Mayhew won the seat at the 1945 general election. Baker had recaptured South Norfolk for the Conservatives in 1950 and held it in 1951; but with majorities of 6.8% and 9.0%, it was far from being a safe seat for the Conservative Party.
The result was a narrow win for the Conservative candidate John Hill, with a majority of only 865 votes (2.9%) over his sole opponent, the Labour candidate J.M. Stewart. At the general election in May 1955, Hill again faced Stewart, and on a much higher turnout held the seat with a majority of 1,475 (4.1%). He remained South Norfolk's MP until his retirement from Parliament at the February 1974 general election.
Votes
South Norfolk by-election, 1955 Party Candidate Votes % ±% Conservative John Hill 15,119 51.5 −3.0 Labour J.M. Stewart 14,254 48.5 +3.0 Majority 865 2.9 −6.1 Turnout 29,373 Conservative hold Swing −3.0 References
- British Parliament by-election: 1955
- Richard Kimber's political science resources: UK General Election results October 1951
- Richard Kimber's political science resources: UK General Election results May 1955
- Craig, F. W. S. (1983) [1969]. British parliamentary election results 1918-1949 (3rd edition ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. ISBN 0-900178-06-X.
See also
- South Norfolk by-election, 1898
- South Norfolk by-election, 1920
- List of United Kingdom by-elections
- South Norfolk constituency
« 39th Parliament « By-elections to the 40th Parliament of the United Kingdom » 41st Parliament » 1952 February: Bournemouth East and Christchurch • Southport • Leeds South East • July: Dundee East • October: Cleveland • Antrim North • November: Belfast South • Wycombe • Birmingham Small Heath • Farnworth1953 1954 February: Ilford North • Haltemprice • Harwich • Bournemouth West • March: Arundel and Shoreham • Harrogate • April: Edinburgh East • Motherwell • September: Croydon East • October: Shoreditch and Finsbury • Wakefield • Aberdare • Aldershot • November: Morpeth • Sutton and Cheam • Liverpool West Derby • Armagh • December: Inverness1955 January: South Norfolk • Orpington • Twickenham • Edinburgh North • February: Stockport South • March: WrexhamCategories:- Elections in Norfolk
- 1955 in England
- 1955 elections in the United Kingdom
- By-elections to the United Kingdom Parliament in East of England constituencies
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